Depression Therapy and Treatment Chicago
Need a therapist for depression in Chicago? Hoping to find someone on the city’s North Side, like Lakeview, Uptown, Roscoe Village or Andersonville? Need a compassionate counselor to help you through the sadness?
If so, you are not alone. While the exact number is unknown, the current research suggests around 21 million people struggle with some form of depression (NIH, 2023).
Symptoms of Depression
If you struggle with depression, you may already know many of the symptoms. But, just in case you don’t, here is what many experience:
- Low energy
- Crying spells – sometimes frequently
- Loss of interest in things that once brought pleasure
- A serious lack of motivation
- Not wanting to be around people (isolating)
- Sleep problems
- Low self-esteem and self-worth
- Feeling hopeless about the future
- Bouts of anxiety in between the sadness
- Problems with concentration and focus
- Feeling tired or “sleepy” for much of the day
- “Brain fog” and problems with memory
- Feelings of frustration and irritation
- Weight changes (weight gain or loss)
- Feeling empty or number inside
- Uninterested in hobbies that once held your attention
How Counseling for Depression Helps
You may be wondering how therapy helps with depression. Some people even ask us, “Can talking really make me feel better?” The answer is more complex than one might think because each person is different.
That said, we know from clinical research that certain types of therapy have helped people with low mood. These forms of counseling include various forms of cognitive behavioral therapy, including traditional CBT, ACT, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
To be transparent about treatments, the vast body of research shows that an individual’s best chance of reducing depressive symptoms happens when the following trio occurs:
- Talk-therapy
- Medication (such as an SSRI)
- Physical activity
Below, we will walk you through each area. Keep in mind we are simply sharing this information and the material below may or may not apply. For example, not everyone struggling with depression needs to be on medication.
Talk therapy
This happens by you coming to your appointments and working collaboratively with your counselor. Different forms of therapy and interventions may be used as part of the experience.
Medication for depression
When you work with one of our therapists, there is a possibility that your counselor will offer a referral to a psychiatrist for an evaluation.
Much will depend on what is happening with you in the here and now and if you are currently taking medication. Additionally, some psychiatrists conduct medical tests to rule out physical causes of depression.
At the Calm Anxiety Clinic, we are linked to different psychiatrists throughout Chicago and are happy to offer you a referral, should the need arise.
Physical activity
Long considered a natural potion for depression and anxiety, physical activity may be encouraged to help balance your mood. We are talking about moderate physical activity.
The recommendation to do this may be suggested if appropriate and only with the blessing of your medical doctor.
Movement, even in small amounts, has a way of positively impacting mood.
Mindfulness-Based Interventions To Combat Depression
The word mindfulness may conjure up mental imagery of something magical, like the lights at Buckingham Fountain in the center of Grant Park being lit at night.
Some people even think of mindfulness as a form of meditation or guided imagery. And still, others chalk it all up to new age run amok.
Here’s the hard truth. Mindfulness is a ten-dollar term used to describe a state of awareness that empowers a person to be in the here and now. It is in this place where positive affirmations and thinking can take place and new possibilities are born.
If you are struggling with depression, mindfulness-based interventions may be particularly helpful – and powerful – in helping to lift your mood.
Imagine for a moment that you are swimming in Lake Michigan, close to the beach at Montrose Harbor in Chicago. As you swim and paddle, you become aware that waves are washing over parts of your body.
Think of those waves as depression.
At first, your initial reaction might be to quickly swim to shore. The waves feel so uncomfortable and disturbing that you just want to get on dry land.
Using this same imagery, imagine that you are able to float above the water and simply observe yourself swimming as the waves wash over your body.
In a very rudimentary form, that is the essence of mindfulness. Being super aware of the moment but in a place of observation and not reaction. If that sounds deep, that’s OK. Understanding mindful constructs takes time.
Depression Doesn’t Have To Ruin Your Life
Depression Therapy Coping Strategies
If you are trying to better understand your mood and learn about coping strategies, you are an excellent candidate for therapy. During your sessions, you will gain new insight into how to detect the onset of your depression and discover healthy, natural ways of working through it.
One way your therapist may offer guidance is by giving your homework assignments. That may sound boring or perhaps uninteresting, but homework can help to reinforce concepts learned in the session.
Example of depression-focused homework includes:
- Worksheets.
- Mindful meditations.
- Journal activities.
- Reflection activities.
- Painting or drawing.
- Nature walks or natural observation.
- Cinema therapy (aka movie therapy.
- Physical activity, like taking a walk around Lakeview, the Gold Coast, Uptown, Andersonville, or wherever you may live.
- Energy psychology exercises.
- Fun-based activities (aka humor therapy.)
- Gathering something together with your friends.
To be clear, homework may be suggested as part of your treatment. In some cases, it may not be offered because the situation isn’t appropriate. Much depends on what may be happening in your life.
Getting Depression Counseling in Chicago
If you are looking to work with a therapist around your depression symptoms, we encourage you to reach out using our confidential contact form. You can also call us at 773.234.1350
If you need a depression therapist in Chicago, the Calm Anxiety Clinic Wants To Help You.
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If you are feeling that you might hurt yourself or someone else, please call 911 right now or immediately go to your nearest emergency room.
References
NIH. (2023). Major Depression. Retrieved from National Institutes of Health: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression